Supported by a corporate network

OLDHAM, 2/1 favourites to win Betfred League 1, which kicks off this weekend, will have the backing and support of up to a dozen local and national sponsors in their pursuit of promotion to the Championship.

Club captain Gareth Owen has already stated publicly, ahead of Sunday’s opening game against last season’s beaten play-off finalists Workington Town at the Vestacare Stadium (3pm) , that the dressing room goal for 2019 is to finish top and go up automatically.

“We don’t want to be involved in play-offs. We want to get the job done and then we can sit back and watch the next five scrap it out,”

said the Roughyeds skipper.

The loan signing this week of Wakefield’s 19-year-old prop Titus Gwaze has taken the squad to 25 in number, 21 of whom have already been sponsored individually, mainly by fans.

In the last few hours Anne Kearns has sponsored Titus, while Luke, Abbie and Jessica Davies have gone with Ben Calland , leaving only Emerson Whittel, Ben Davies, Harry Maders and Adam Brook still to be’adopted’.

Scott Naylor, Peter Carey and Adam Neal are also available for backing.

The players wish to thank all their sponsors as well as the companies, firms and others who have have either extended club or kit sponsorship agreements or signed up to new deals in order to take their places in the club’s sponsorship portfolio.

Eight were with us last year and have renewed for 2019, namely Bamford Print of Heywood, Hanlon and Wright of Dukinfield, H Mullaney and Son of Mossley, the Oldham Times, ORSA, Regenda Homes, Spindles Town Square Shopping and the University of Salford.

The four newcomers are Purpose Business and Marketing, the Property Buying Company, Swans Travel and Premier Car, who have replaced Premier SsangYong.

Latest to come on board are The Oldham Times, for the second year running, and Premier Car.

Said club chairman Chris Hamilton:

“A massive thank-you to all our sponsors, both corporate and individual.

“These are difficult times financially in pro sport and sponsorship is a vital element that helps to keep heads above water.

“At the same time we strive to play our part in making sure that sponsorship deals are beneficial to all parties.”

OLDHAM RLFC is delighted to offer its congratulations to Councillor Ginny Alexander and her Consort husband, former Oldham councillor and Oldham RLFC forward Adrian Alexander, on the extension of her term of office as Mayor until May, 2021.